The Spoils of War (COMPLETED)

New Beginnings

Alaric paced his room as Alistar watched him with undisclosed enjoyment. "So let me get this straight. A girl falls on you, tells you a false name, then runs away when you are defending her and now you want to find her because?"

His friend's words made Alaric pause in his pacing. Why did he want to find her? He didn't wish to punish her... So was it mere curiosity that made him seek her out? "I do not know." The answer slipped from his lips unwanted.

Alistar chuckled. "Well you have my support if you need it. Shall we find your girl?"

His girl? Alaric felt his emotions spiraling out of control. Those two words gave him excitement, fear, and confusion. He had only met her once, and sure she was pretty but his heart had always been set on Morgianna. How could he even think of another girl romantically?

...

Jasmine traveled almost nonstop until she reached the edge of the kingdom. It took several days but she traveled even at night, only stopping to take naps during the day. She didn't feel safe anywhere and now she was homeless and had no proof of who she was.

Thinking long and hard she looked back at the place she was escaping from. Sure the races got along better now but who is to say she wouldn't still be shunned in one of the other kingdoms.

Making her mind up she hoped she wouldn't regret her decision and headed to one of the nearby towns.

...

Upon her arrival it was already starting to get dark. If she did not find a place to stay she would be sleeping outside again.

She was not above begging if it meant she knew she would be safer during the night. Those three meant that had accosted her before had left her fearing for her life, but the Wrights had left her with a strong distrust of people.

Jasmine hurried along the cobblestoned streets in search of an inn that did not look too expensive but also not so run down that she would be better off sleeping outside. Then right ahead she saw it, The Sleeping Giant. It looked clean and sturdy compared to some of the buildings around it.

Walking in she was surprised to see a woman that easily hit the 7-foot mark. Her brown hair was pulled back from her face and her apron was dirty but she was pretty. The bell on the door had announced her arrival and she found the woman's gaze to be watching her intently. "Umm I am sorry to intrude but I was wondering if I could work for a room?" She shuffled her feet as the woman watched her. The gaze wasn't unfriendly but more searching. As if she were trying to suss out the reason for her being in this area.

"I am sorry but we do not have any rooms available." The woman looked apologetic but Jasmine couldn't tell if she were being truthful.

She tried to hide her disappointment but knew her face must have shown it. As she was about to turn to leave a woman she had not even realized was in the room reached out and took her hand. "Claudia, let her have our room. We are going out for the night anyway." Green hair framed her small face and her purple eyes seemed to shine. "You don't mind right Fafnir?"

Jasmine was still tongue-tied and couldn't even form a sentence as she looked over at the tall man that stood behind the woman that currently held her hand. Finally finding her voice she forced the words out. "I c-couldn't possibly take your room from you." Her voice came out a squeak dying her fair cheeks a bright shade of red.

"It would go to waste if you do not use it." She would have expected the words if they came from the friendly woman but the voice that answered was gruff and almost a growl. Fafnir looked away from her. His eyes only had room for one woman and that was Myra. If it weren't for a short visit from Morgianna he wouldn't even bother talking to the girl in front of them.

He didn't know why Morgianna always had to be so cryptic but as they were told to book a room here and then give it to the girl who was they to argue. Even after her death they still followed her in ways. He and Myra were on their way back to his homeland but made a pitstop here on the instance that it was life or death.

Myra wanted to elbow Fafnir, but it was his gruff attitude and no-nonsense personality that she had fell in love with so she settled with rolling her eyes. Looking back at Jasmine she gave her what she hoped was a reassuring smile.

"I am Myra, and this man is my partner Fafnir. Please do not feel bad for using the room, we really are leaving earlier than we thought. The room would be vacant so it would help us sleep better if we knew you were using it."

Tears fell unbidden from Jasmine's eyes causing Myra to feel alarmed. "Did I say something wrong? I'm sorry I'm really not trying to force you... I just figured you need a room and we won't be needing the one we got.."

"No! I'm sorry for crying. I was just so ready to give up on people and you are helping me... I don't mean to be so emotional." Tears just kept streaming down her face. She had suffered greatly for trusting people but she found herself thinking that maybe, just maybe not everyone was bad.

After taking the key and bidding them farewell she found her room. As soon as the door was shut she locked it and sunk to the floor in exhaustion. All the worries she had the past couple days melted as her tense muscles relaxed. There would be many trials ahead of her but for just tonight she would pretend that she was home. Not the Wright's house, but the place she grew up with her family.

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Word count before note: 1038

Fafnir and Myra guest appearances! In this story there will be many other characters you will recognize. Claudia Bonnet is the same innkeeper that Morgianna and Fafnir met when she first joined the guild.

I was once told that there is no such thing as coincidences. You are always right where you are supposed to be. Without that girl even trying she has become entangled into the group. The next chapter will have a couple more guest appearances 😄😘

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